# CVE-2016-3976: SAP NetWeaver Directory Traversal Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-3976-sap-netweaver-directory-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-3976 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java contains a directory traversal vulnerability in the CrashFileDownloadServlet. Remote attackers can exploit this by using dot-dot-backslash (..\\) sequences in the fileName parameter to read arbitrary files from the server.

Technologies: [SAP NetWeaver](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/netweaver). Vendors: [SAP](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/sap).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-3976 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2016-3976 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2016-3976?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** SAP NetWeaver AS Java 7.1 through 7.5.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-3976?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2016-3976 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-3976?** Check whether you run SAP NetWeaver. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- SAP NetWeaver AS Java 7.1 through 7.5

## Timeline

- 2016-03-08: advisory: SAP Security Note 2234971 released
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: disclosed: NVD publication date

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- [SAP NetWeaver Internet Graphics Service input validation denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-109807-sap-netweaver-internet-graphics-service-does-not-sufficiently)